BARNSLEY: Cup run could bring ‘buzz’ back to Oakwell

Neil Goulding
Barnsley

BARNSLEY director Don Rowing has told The Star that an FA Cup run would bring the “buzz” back to Oakwell.

The Reds have drawn fellow Championship side Burnley in this year’s third round, with the tie due to played on Saturday 5 January.

And having seen the club go nine games without a win in the league, it’s perhaps not surprising Rowing wants a decent cup run to raise supporters’ spirits.

Barnsley famously reached the 2008 semi-finals having dumped out Premier League giants and former winners Chelsea and Liverpool.

“We all want a good FA Cup run; it would be great for the club and for the supporters,” Rowing said.

“It would be nice to have a cup run because it would bring a buzz back to the club, which is what is needed.

“We had a great run a few years ago and that will be very hard to repeat, but the financial rewards of having a good run are appealing.”

The Reds could pocket in the region of £70,000 if they do beat the Clarets in the New Year, but Rowing would have dearly loved for the club to have drawn one of the so-called ‘big’ clubs in the third round.

“I think we’re overdue a big draw,” added Rowing.

“We were lucky enough to get Manchester United [at home in the Carling Cup] a few years ago, which was nice, but it would have been nice to have played a Premier League team [in the third round.]

“No disrespect to Burnley, but it’s not a plum draw for us. But we played well against them when we played them in the league [a 1-1 draw] and, if we can replicate that performance again, then there’s no reason why we can’t get the result we want it.”